The Reindeer People

I remember basically nothing about this book. I don't think I thought it was anywhere near the level of Lindholm's later writing as Robin Hobb, or as easy to read and enjoyable as the Ki and Vandien quartet. Still, I read it all and eagerly read the sequel, so there's good stuff there. ( )

Tales of stone and bronze age folk (is this a genre with a name, like 'Cave Bear fiction'?) is not usually my thing, but I am a Robin Hobb fan and Megan Lindholm is another of her pen names, so I am determined to read whatever I can get my hands on. It's good anyway, to read outside your preference zone once in a while. It's a solidly crafted story, strong characters who do, in the end, matter. I'm reading Arctic Dreams at the moment, so I am more sensitive to this kind of close observation than I might usually be. The cavalcade of reindeer crunched their slow way down the hillside. Their toe bones clicked as their wide cloven hooves spread their weight out on the frozen crust of the snow. Their heads bobbed, their white tails flicked in an endless pattern too complex to be deciphered." Suberb! Another reader who loves this stuff would likely give it a higher rating because the details in it do bring the time and place into strong relief - bravo to Lindholm/Hobbs for doing her homework so carefully. Alas, I was intermittently engaged, so must rate as I must. It has a second part and I am plunging right into it, so that says something. ***3/4 ( )